Back pack and frame

ABSTRACT

Back pack frame is made of sections of tubing and tees to form sides and transverse connectors of a lightweight frame to which a pack is attached and which may be strapped to the back. At least some of the joints of the tubing sections and tees are detachable so that the frame may be disassembled. The pack has a pocket which may be opened for storage of the frame parts. The pack may be used for attachment to the frame, or may be lifted by a permanent handle on one side like a suitcase, or may be slung over the shoulder using as a sling the hip surrounding belt of the frame.

United States Patent [1 1 Richards et a1.

[ BACK PACK AND FRAME 221 Filed: July 31,1972

211 App1.No.:276,455

52 Us. Cl. 224/8 R, 224/25 A [51] Int. Cl. A45! 3/08 58 Field of Search224/25 A, s R, s A;

24/129 R, 129 B, 129 D, 123 D, 128

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1927 Zimmerlund 24/129 B1/1941 Powers 8/1968 Spina 24/128 R X [451 Jan. 14,1975

Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant ExaminerJero1d M. ForsbergAttorney, Agent, or Firm lulian Caplan [57] ABSTRACT Back pack frame ismade of sections of tubing and tees to form sides and transverseconnectors of a lightweight frame to which a pack is attached and whichmay be strapped to the back. At least some of the joints of the tubingsections and tees are detachable so that the frame may be disassembled.The pack has a pocket which may be opened for storage of the frameparts. The pack may be used for attachment to the frame, or may belifted by a permanent handle on one side like a suitcase, or may beslung over the shoulder using as a sling the hip surrounding belt of theframe.

4 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures NIB 1) JAN 1 4 I975 FATE O, 0 O r 0 0 0BACK PACK AND FRAME This invention relates to a new and improved backpack and frame therefor. A principal feature and advantage of theinvention is the fact that the frame is formed of lightweight materialsparticularly sections of tubing and tees which can be taken apart whenthe frame for the pack is not being used. The pack itself is preferablyformed with a compartment in which the parts of the frame may be stored.Hence the pack may be used as a suitcase when shipped by common carrieror when carried on the streets or in hotels.

Another principal feature of the invention is the fact that the pack maybe carried in several ways. Among these ways are the primary methodwhere the pack is supported by the frame which is carried on the back ofthe user, but the pack may also be carried like a suitcase from a handleprovided on the side of the pack. Alternatively, a sling may beconstructed of the padded belt which is used with the pack frame, thebelt being unbuckled and attached to opposite ends of the pack for slingsupport.

Other features of the. pack are that it is multipocketed so that anumber of different items may be stored in selected location where theyare readily located when required without the necessity of rummagingthrough an entire single compartment pack. The various pouches on thesides and backof the pack are readily accessible.

Another feature of the pack is the use: of a: semicircular zipper whichclosesthefront and provides easy and convenient access to the interior.For this purpose, the zipper opens from thebottom totop, giving accessto thebottom and there. is a separate opening for access to they top.The arcuateshape of the closure makes it easier to operate since thereareno corners which are difficult for a slideout fastener'to traverse.

Amongthe features of thepack-frame are its extreme light weight and. itscomfortable conformation. Since the. frame sections are formedoftubingwhich fitinto the ends of the tees,.they maybe shortened to adjustthe frame to the dimensions of the. back of theuser merely by cuttingsections'of. tubing.' Further, if the frame isof a material such as athermoplastic, when the tubingis heated, it can be'bent which furtherconforms the-shape of the frame to the wearer.

Another-feature of the pack is theuse of netting such as nylonseines-(primarily; used for fishingnets) which is tightened around "thesides of the frame in the region which engages the back so that thenetting-isnext'to the back of thewearer and the weight of the pack isdistributed up and down-the back more comfortably than in other'packframes. The netting is comfortable since: it permits air circulation tothe wearers back. Further, thenetting has an additional function ofapplying tension to thesides of the frame so that they are notunintentionally disassembled.

Another feature of theinvention is the fact that the nettingis held onthe frame by ties which are adjustable in length and, therefore, adjustthe tension of the netting which is afurther comfort feature.

Another feature of the inventionis the use of a spe-' cially constructedtensiondevice for the tension tie which enables each tie :to be adjustedin length" veryv rapidly and further permits intentional'loosening ofthe ties but does not permit unintentional loosening.

Another advantage of the invention is the use of a padded hip engagingbelt which may be rapidly attached to the back frame but which may bedetached, unbuckled and used as a sling as heretofore explained. Thepadding which is useful when the belt is around the hips is furtheruseful when the belt is slung over the shoulders.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawingsin which similar characters of reference represent corresponding partsin each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the pack mounted on the packframe and the pack frame on the shoulder of the user.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the frame with the pack removed.

FIG. 2A is a side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the various portions of the framedisassembled.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of FIG. 2 showingnetting applied to the frame.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view in enlarged scale showing aportion of the netting and the tie for tightening the same.

FIG. 6 is an explodedperspective view of a portion of the lower leftcorner of the frame.

FIG; 7 is a perspective view showing the hip pad off the'frame. I

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the back, top and one side of thepack.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the back, one side and bottom ofthe pack and also showing the hip pad attached thereto as a sling.

FIG. l0'is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a sidepocket of the pack opened and showing the parts of the framedisassembled and stored in the pocket.

FIG. 1 l is a perspective view of a modified cord tighten'er' andassociated structure.

FIG; l2 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 4. I

The present invention provides a pack frame 21 which is carried-on theback of the user as is shown in FIG. 1 to which is attached a pack 22 ofcanvas or other construction by means of top loops 23. The pack 22 maybe rapidly and conveniently installed and removed fromthe frame 21, andthe frame 21 may be rapidly and conveniently strapped to the backof theuser and is extremely comfortable when thus strapped. As shown in FIG.1, the pack frame 2l is high on the shoulders and supports the pack 22almost vertical with the weight of the pack distributed to the legs bymeans of hipbelt 71, an extremely comfortable means of supporting theweight of the contents of the pack. As further explained in detail, theframe 21 may be disassembled andits parts stored inside the pack 22.When thus used, the pack 22 maybe-carried as a suitcase or it may beslung over the shoulders.

Preferably, the-frame of the pack 21 is made up of sections of tubingand fittings such as tees. A preferred material is'the polyvinylchloride high impact tubing used for underground garden'sprinklersystems. Such tubing-is inexpensive, is easily cut in length and may bebent into various shapes by heating and forming the tubing. One of thefeatures of the invention is the fact that the frame 21 may be adjustedto fit the user. Such adjustment may be performed by shortening thevarious sections of tubing or by bending or unbending some of thesections.

The frame has two substantially vertical sides 26R, 26L, each of whichis substantially identical. On each side there is a top extension 27 oftubing, the upper end of which is closed by a top cap 28 which fits overthe end thereof and is secured against loss by a retainer loop 29 whichis permanently connected to one of the other portions of the side. Thecap 28 is removed when the strap 23 is slipped over the end of extension27. When the cap 28 is replaced, the strap 23 cannot be unintentionallyremoved from the frame 21. Below extension 27 is upper tee 31 whichreceives the lower end of extension 27 and which is connected to thesecond side member 32 which preferably is formed with a bend 33 (seeFIG. 2A) which causes the upper end of the frame 21 to slantupwardly-forwardly for better weight distribution. The lower end ofmember 32 is received in the second tee 34 which is located at about thelevel of the shoulders of the wearer. Below tee 34 is a long member 36which is preferably formed with a bend 37 near its lower end whichcurves in a direction opposite bend 33. The bend 37 is about at thesmall of the back of the wearer. Its lower end is about at hip level.Third, or bottom tee 38, is attached to the lower end of member 36 andthere is a bottom extension 39 extending from tee 38 which has a bottomcap 41 held against unintentional loss by retainer 42 which ispermanently fastened to the tee 38.

There are three transverse members which interconnect the sides 26L,26R, all of approximately equal length and all curved forwardly concaveto accommodate the' back of the wearer. The uppermost member 43interconnects the tees 31. The intermediate transverse member 44interconnects the tees 34 and preferably has near its middle two spacedsleeves 46 which are cemented thereto and provide a gap between them forattachment of straps 61 as hereinafter appears. The lowermost transversemember 47 interconnects the tees 38.

Each of the transverse members 43, 44, 47 is detachable from both of thetees into which its ends fit. Furthermore, the long members 36 arepreferably detachable from the tees 34. However, all of the members maybe made detachable. Where no detachment is required, the ends of thetubing may be cemented into the openings in the tees in the same mannerthat sections of sprinkler pipe are cemented to pipe fittings.

The demounting arrangement described and illustrated in FIG. makes theframe into detachable segments which are conveniently handled andstored.

To hold the sides 26R, 26L in engagement with the transverse members 44,47 netting 51 which is preferably a nylon seine may be used. The sideedges of the netting 51 pass around the outsides of the tubing sections36 and are formed with overlaps 52. The inner edges of the overlaps 52are provided at vertically spaced intervals with grommets 53. Cords 54are used to pull opposed grommets 53 toward each other with the desireddegree of tension and preferably there is a cord 54 for each pair ofgrommets 53 so that tension may be adjusted differently at differentportions of the netting 51. As best shown in FIG. 5, to adjust thetension on cord 54 a special fitting is used consisting of a ring 56 andan integral nipple 57. One end of cord 54 is formed in a loop 58 whichfits through the ring 56 and nipple 57 and out the end thereof. Theopposite end 59 of cord 54 passes through the loop 58. By pulling theend 59 so that the cord 54 is tight between the grommets 53, and becauseof the tension of the netting 51, the cord 54 tends to draw itself tightand tends to pull loop 58 inwardly 0f the nipple 57 thereby tightlycrimping the end 59. The loosening ofthe cord 54 is ac complished byreversal of the operation. The ICIISlul. on the netting 51 draws themembers 36 toward each other and thus prevents the transverse members44. 47 from slipping out of the ends of the tees 34, 38. Also. thenetting 51 engages the back of the wearer as is partially shown in FIG.1, and distributes the load all over the portion of the back of thewearer which it engages. This is a very comfortable means of suspendingthe frame 21 from the back.

An alternate tension device is illustrated in FIG. 11. A flat, thinmember 56a of metal or plastic, preferably rectangular, has a centralhole provided in the grommet 86. Near one end is a hole 87 and theopposite end has a slot 88. One end of cord 54a is formed with knot 89which prevents the cord from being pulled through hole 87. The cord 54ais threaded through grommets 53 in netting 51 as in FIG. 5. To draw thecord 54a tight, a loop 91 therein passes through grommet 86 and the freeend of the cord passes through loop 91 and is secured in slot 88. Rapidand easy adjustment of the effective cord length is thus possible.

FIG. 12 shows one means for holding the top edge of netting 51 inproximity to intermediate transverse member 44. A piece of cord 45passes around member 44 and its length is adjustable by tightener 56 orother means. Utility hook 48 on cord 45 hooks into grommet 49 on the topedge of netting 51.

There are two shoulder pads 61 each having an upper loop 62 which passesaround transverse members 44 between the sleeves 46. The sleeves 46prevent the loop 62 from spreading outwardly and it is found that thismethod of holding the pads 61 relative to the frame 21 is particularlycomfortable. Pads 61 are attached to webs 63 formed at their lower endswith lower loops 64 which pass around lower extensions 39. There arebuckles 66 connecting the pads 61 to the web 63 in an adjustable manner,said buckles 66 being normally located at about the arm pits of thewearer as best shown in FIG. 1. The shoulder pads 61 hold the pack frame21 upright but are not intended to support a major portion of the weightof the pack. The major portion of the weight is applied by netting 51 tothe back and to the hips by the hip belt 71. The web 63 passing aroundthe extensions 39 required when the netting 51 be in firm contact withthe back of the wearer.

A hip-belt 71 which is provided with a pad 72 fits around the waist ofthe wearer. Belt 71 holds the bottom of the frame 21 in verticalposition and also distributes most of the weight on and around the hipsand legs and relieves most of the weight from the shoulders. The belt 71is formed with a pair of loops 73 which fit around the bottom extensions39, these loops being provided with buckles for adjustment. There isalso a buckle 68 at the front of belt 71 for adjustment to the size ofthe waist of the user. As best shown in FIG. 9, the buckle 68 may beopened and its parts used to buckle the ends of belt 71 to the tabs 69sewn to pack 22. The pads 72 then can be fitted over the shoulder of thewearer and the pack 22 suspended from a sling provided by the belt 71.This is a second means of wearing the pack 22.

Turning now to the details of the pack 22, this pack is, of course,subject to wide variation. There is, preferably, a main compartment 76which is rectangular. In a preferred form of the invention, access tothe main compartment 76 is obtained through a slide fastener 77 on theback of the pack which is preferably curved. This shape prevents theslide fastener from jamming and also prevents all of the contents of themain compartment 76 from falling out as soon as the fastener is opened.The slide 75 for fastener 77 preferably opens from the bottom, givingaccess to the bottom without fully opening the zipper and disturbing theother contents of the pack. As an auxiliary means for access to the topof the pack, a horizontal zipper 96 closing three sides of the top edgemay be used. A flap 97 covers the zipper 96. A plurality of individuallyaccessible pouches 78 is distributed at various locations on the top,back and sides of the main compartment to hold various cooking utensilsand items of clothing and toilet. As a third means of carrying the pack,there is preferably a suitcase style handle 79 on one side which may begripped in the hand.

As has heretofore been explained, one of the features of the frame 21 isits demountability. Preferably, there is a pocket 81 on one of the sidesor other position of the pack to which access is obtained by slidefastener 82. Within side pocket 81 are straps 83 through which the endsof the various sections of the demounted frame 21 may be slipped forstorage. The side pocket 81 is preferably large enough to accommodatethe netting 51 and the hip-belt 71 when not used as a sling.

Pack frame 21 is readily assembled and disassembled. The variouselements which fasten the frame 21 to the wearer are convenientlyattached and detached and adjusted. Thus the netting 51 may be slippedover the assembled frame 21 by first loosening the various cords 54 bypulling the rings 56 away from the loops 58 and slipping the end 59relative to the loop 58. The overlapped ends 52 may be slipped over thesides of the assembled frame 21. When the ends 59 are drawn tight, thenetting 51 is tensed, which biases the sides 26 toward each other andprevents the transverse members 43, 44, 47 from slipping out of theirrespective places. After the frame 21 is assembled, the caps 28 and 41are removed permitting the loops 23, 64 and 73 to be attached.Thereupon, the caps 28, 41 are replaced holding the pack on the frame21. With the buckle 68 opened, the shoulder pads 61 are slipped over theshoulder and thereupon the ends of the belt 71 are drawn around thewaist of the wearer and the buckle 68 fastened. Thereby, the frame 21and pack 22 are comfortably supported on the back of the wearer.Adjustment can routinely be made by the buckles 66, 68 and attachment ofthe portion of the cord 54. However,

if major adjustment is required, the various sections of tubing may beformed or may be bent after heating to fit the frame to the back of thewearer.

Detachment 0f the netting 51 permits disassembly of the tubing section;and if desired, they may be stored in the side pocket 81. Thereupon, thepack 22 functions as a suitcase which may be carried by the handle 79 orby the sling formed by the hip-belt 71.

Whether the pack 22 is assembled on the frame 21, or whether it iscarried separately, access to its various pouches 78 is convenient andthe slide fasteners 77 and 82 provides convenient access to the maincompartment 76 or the side pocket 81.

What is claimed is:

l. A back pack frame comprising a first side and a second side eachformed of a plurality of polyvinyl chloride tubular members and aplurality of polyvinyl chloride tee fittings receiving opposite ends ofsaid tubular members, each said side having an upward and a downwardextension fitting into the uppermost and lowermost of said tee fittingsrespectively, said extensions adapted to receive loops on the top andbottom of a pack supported by said frame to hold said pack and frameassembled, at least two transverse tubular members, each said transversemember having one of its ends received in an opening of a tee fitting ofsaid first side and its opposite end received in an opening of a teefitting of said second side, stretchable netting extending across saidtransverse members around said sides and cord through holes in marginsof said netting drawing edges of said netting inward to draw said sidestoward each other, said netting and friction of the ends of saidtransverse members in said tees being the sole means of holding saidtransverse members and said sides assembled, said tubular members beingbent to fit the back of the wearer of said frame and being bendable whenheated to adjust the fit of said members to the wearers back.

2. A frame according to claim 1 which further comprises fittings forsaid cords each having a nipple and an enlarged ring, a loop of saidcord extending through said fitting and an end of said cord passingthrough said loop for convenient adjustment of the effective length ofsaid cord.

3. A frame according to claim 1 which farther comprises fittings forsaid cords each having a thin body formed with three openings, one endof said cord fixed to one said opening, a loop of said cord adjacent theopposite end thereof passing through the second said opening, saidopposite end passing through said loop and being detachably secured inthe third said opening.

4. The frame of claim 1 in combination with a pack having a pocketwherein all the elements of said frame may be disassembled and fittedwithin said pocket and a closure for said pocket.

1. A back pack frame comprising a first side and a second side eachformed of a plurality of polyvinyl chloride tubular members and aplurality of polyvinyl chloride tee fittings receiving opposite ends ofsaid tubular members, each said side having an upward and a downwardextension fitting into the uppermost and lowermost of said tee fittingsrespectively, said extensions adapted to receive loops on the top andbottom of a pack supported by said frame to hold said pack and frameassembled, at least two transverse tubular members, each said transversemember having one of its ends received in an opening of a tee fitting ofsaid first side and its opposite end received in an opening of a teefitting of said second side, stretchable netting extending across saidtransverse members around said sides and cord through holes in marginsof said netting drawing edges of said netting inward to draw said sidestoward each other, said netting and friction of the ends of saidtransverse members in said tees being the sole means of holding saidtransverse members and said sides assembled, said tubular members beingbent to fit the back of the wearer of said frame and being bendable whenheated to adjust the fit of said members to the wearer''s back.
 2. Aframe according to claim 1 which further comprises fittings for saidcords each having a nipple and an enlarged ring, a loop of said cordextending throuGh said fitting and an end of said cord passing throughsaid loop for convenient adjustment of the effective length of saidcord.
 3. A frame according to claim 1 which farther comprises fittingsfor said cords each having a thin body formed with three openings, oneend of said cord fixed to one said opening, a loop of said cord adjacentthe opposite end thereof passing through the second said opening, saidopposite end passing through said loop and being detachably secured inthe third said opening.
 4. The frame of claim 1 in combination with apack having a pocket wherein all the elements of said frame may bedisassembled and fitted within said pocket and a closure for saidpocket.